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Post by farmrbrown on Nov 6, 2020 2:42:43 GMT
fixitguy, we have similar backgrounds and experiences, especially the "make-it-work guy" part, lol. I learned everything about CNC's exactly backwards from the way most do it, but every step helped me get things done better as time went by. The CAD programming is really helpful when it comes to intricate shapes but the toolpaths they choose seem more convenient for the programmer rather than functionally correct from the viewpoint of an experienced operator. Lots of technical stuff involved in that last sentence, but IOW, a little smart editing of the CAD programs can yield better results and cut down on production times. When you figure out the short cuts and get the right tooling, it can be a lot of rewarding fun!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2020 11:34:54 GMT
I have deliberately not posted on this thread in case Hubs walks in the room. He's wanted one for a while. I have a feeling he is getting one when we move.
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Post by joebill on Dec 12, 2020 16:44:01 GMT
I drove through a little town in West Texas on the way back from a show where I was selling my jewelry tools and nearly every single business on the main drag had an artistic sign out front, prob'ly cut by an early version of that machine, although at the time I thought they had been done offhand.
The garage had a sign with an old jalopy outline and the words "auto repair", and so forth. I addition, every ranch drive in the area had a big sign over or beside the driveway with cowboy or desert designs and the ranch name, and about that time I snapped to the fact that if you drove into and out of that town and had any use whatsoever for a sign like that, you would automatically pull in someplace and inquire as to who was making them, then p-ay a visit. They also had a web site that was easy to find by using the town name, and had had a few articles written about them that showed up online.
Of course, that also brought on lots of guys who thought they could do the same thing offhand, me included, but only the ones that were young and did not yet have the old-age tremmors got good at it. I had no regrets, though, I wore that plasma cutter out making pyramid bells and sold every one I ever made. I was able to buy truckloads of "rumpled" steel sheet out of Amarillo at a bargain rate, and could use all sizes down to less than a square foot.
A good source of either rumpled or remnant steel can make a huge difference in your net, so keep your eyes open and lotsa luck!......Joe
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Post by joebill on Dec 12, 2020 19:48:46 GMT
One more bit of blather about that cutter and possible profits; IF you so desire, you can put in a few days or hours work on the prints and code it in, and have yourself a GREAT wood stove prototype, ready for cutting and the mig work of welding it up! Yeah, I know, wood stoves are supposed to be magical and hard to design properly, but either that is so much bull or else I am the most lucky guy alive with a crew of designing angels hanging over my shoulder as I have randomly cut out and welded up a bunch of wood stoves that have performed VERY satisfactorily for decades. It used to be that we thought the grates needed to be cast iron, but now you can buy VERY heavy stainless steel expanded metal that will serve very well, or fabricate grates from SS heavy sheet. Traditional stove blacking will not stick to steel so good, so you will either need to paint with high-temperature paint or resort to some old blacksmithing tricks of the trade to get a great finish, but once you figure out what you like, you are home free. You can chase either or both markets profitably, since TSC makes a cheapy you could duplicate more or less in steel that they get $300 for, looks like if it were steel instead of iron, you might spend 10% on material....OR, this one is mostly made from steel anyhow, sells for a grand.. factorypure.com/collections/wood-stoves/products/englands-stove-works-summers-heat-50-shssw01-smartstove-2-200-sq-ft-wood-stove-new?type=72852083&utm_campaign=CompareSimilarItems&utm_medium=GridItem_3&utm_source=AW1120E-P%20-%3E%2050-SHSSW01and if you are just doing local business, no shipping charges. A local hvac guy could be doing sales and installs..... Anyhow, that is just one more thing....enjoy your new capabilities... Joe
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Post by sawmilljim on Dec 13, 2020 0:42:30 GMT
Joebill I have always thought a person could do well building out side wood fired water heating furnaces. The kind where the heating coil goes in duct work.
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Post by paisley on Dec 13, 2020 1:29:53 GMT
sawmilljim, My woodstove does radiate in floor heating, and did do 100 of our domestic hot water (Jim messed with that but I know what needs to be done). Next year. I just blew my saving getting my eye dealt with.😡. I now have uncorrected vision of......... 20/800...( no extra 0's used) I have to wear contacts 100% of the time and 3 different pairs of glasses for different distances.. And special glasses to drive. That dog my eye doc said I'd be needing seems more and more a reality. That what has taken up my time the last week or so.
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Post by joebill on Dec 15, 2020 3:19:29 GMT
Paisley, I am REALLY sorry to hear that! It sounds like a supremely stupid question even to me, but is there anything we can do to help? Some gizmo to help you get around or a spot light good for half a mile of just nearly anything in the way of a problem we can help solve? I have an old friend who has been legally blind for more than 20 years, and his occupation is buying and selling artifacts, both at shows and in his shop. He does pretty dang well, but his wife serves as his eyes, and she has a bit more business sense than a dog. I know that you are a extremely strong and capable woman, but you must be working out solutions for the future even now, so if there is anything we can help with, please speak up! There is prob'ly a VERY good chance that David is ready to retire from painting and begin a second career as a seeing eye dog, so there is a start... .....Joe
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Post by paisley on Dec 15, 2020 11:33:59 GMT
I now consider eyeglass as hair acsessories. I mainly seem to use two pairs the reading ones are temps so the real ones should be better and they will have to change as my arms are not growing four inches. Weird how there are sweet spots. Oh, tip folks blue light from computers are not good for folka s per the doctor. Driving will be better with wrap around dark glasses. The doctor is my solution...and I finally know where I meet him before... Business people avoid political discussions as an opening long and he did ...I thought it odd. See I really don't see faces in person in detail. And add in the masks. Good luck for me in recognizing folks. He was willing to run for office I met him at a political event he was willing to run for office but he lived on a border street. The center line divides districts so he had no office...but he does live where he can run for another office in two years... I did not make the connection till hours after I left his office .....his voice connected to me, and he knew me personally (comments he made made that clear) well will laugh at the next meeting to gets my real glasses. I am going to be fine...it just a real shock to learn how much vision I had lost. Mentally I have accepted losing more vision down the line but this visit really was positive but with contacts and glasses I will be seeing so much better. I am going to need more pockets. Thanks though .... David! you up to being a seeing eye dog??? I promise to name my future dog David now!
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